Master Theses & Projects
https://hdl.handle.net/10155/387
Master Theses & Projects (FSCI)2024-03-28T21:12:32ZPreliminary design of a social asymmetric virtual reality upper-limb exergame for individuals with dementia utilizing insights from caregivers
https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1737
Preliminary design of a social asymmetric virtual reality upper-limb exergame for individuals with dementia utilizing insights from caregivers
Saunders, Stephen
This thesis investigates the usability, task load, cooperative performance, and social presence effects of an asymmetric VR game for upper limb activity in the context of elderly care from the perspective of caregivers. The study presented participants with three different play modes: Cooperative within immersive VR, cooperative external to VR, and single-player within VR. The results indicate that the three conditions had above-average usability and social presence and a task load score lower than that of average daily activities. Additionally, a Sign test between the cooperative versions revealed a statistically significant difference in mean Behavioural Engagement scores favouring the version external to VR, p = 0.031. Although future studies with larger sample sizes are needed for an effective evaluation, these results indicate the exergame shows much promise in providing a highly usable, low cognitive load, socially involved exergame for people with dementia and their caregivers.
2023-10-01T00:00:00ZExploring volumetric video & VR on self-efficacy for first aid training - a pilot study
https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1730
Exploring volumetric video & VR on self-efficacy for first aid training - a pilot study
Orian, Colin
The health profession is currently in a global crisis due to the lack of health professionals, such as nurses and doctors. In response to this ongoing crisis, extended reality is being investigated as a potential modality for teaching the next generation of health professionals. In addition to extended reality being used for teaching, dynamic recordings of sequential 3-dimensional models, also known as volumetric videos, have been investigated for their use in education. However, there is a limited amount of research on how volumetric videos compare to conventional 2D videos. Therefore, this thesis compares how volumetric videos and 2D videos influence a person’s self confidence by having participants learn how to perform head bandaging in virtual reality through watching either video type. A significant difference in self confidence was found after viewing an instructional video on head bandaging. A significant difference in presence between the videos was also found.
2023-12-01T00:00:00ZThe identification of novel cys-loop receptor genes in Dirofilaria immitis
https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1729
The identification of novel cys-loop receptor genes in Dirofilaria immitis
Nichols, Jennifer S.
Dirofilaria immitis is a parasitic nematode responsible for canine heartworm disease. Currently, heartworm treatments rely primarily on a single drug class – the macrocyclic lactones – but anthelmintic resistance is emerging. Cys-loop ligand-gated ion channels are an untapped source for drug targets essential for nematode neurotransmission. This thesis presents the isolation and preliminary pharmacological characterization of three inhibitory D. immitis ion channels: GLC-2, GLC-4, and LGC-49. These genes are conserved across nematode species and expressed throughout the D. immitis life-cycle, as demonstrated by phylogenetic analysis and RT-qPCR. Dim-GLC-2 forms a monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) and L-glutamic acid sensitive homomeric channel, whereas the Dim-GLC-2/Dim-GLC-4 heteromeric channel shows reduced MSG current amplitude. The Dim-LGC-49 homomeric channel is responsive to cholinergic compounds. Homology modelling of homomeric channels highlights binding pocket residues which may interact with ligands. This research provides additional information on cys-loop receptors in parasitic nematodes crucial for understanding the action of potential new drugs.
2023-10-01T00:00:00ZSilence of the fish: injection of photoswitchable short interfering RNA oligonucleotides into Japanese medaka embryos (oryzias latipes) to photochemically control gene silencing
https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1727
Silence of the fish: injection of photoswitchable short interfering RNA oligonucleotides into Japanese medaka embryos (oryzias latipes) to photochemically control gene silencing
Mateus, Makenzie
The siRNA duplex functions by binding to and cleaving mRNA, a process known as the RNAi pathway. Existing siRNAs face challenges such as off-target effects and unpredictable prolonged gene-silencing. To address these issues, enhancing their therapeutic potential, siRNAs can be modified controlling their role in the RNAi pathway. An Ortho-functionalized, tetrafluorinatedazobenzene was integrated into the siRNA backbone via phophoramidite chemistry to generate a class of photoswitchable F-siRNAs. These F-siRNAs retained the ability to photoisomerize from an active trans to an inactive cis state through blue and green light respectively. This thesis reported on a novel technique to inject single cell medaka embryos with both Wt and F-siRNAs. Medaka are a small freshwater teleost fish that have a number of desirable features for use as a vertebrate model in gene silencing projects. These attributes include daily spawning, a number of useful genetic strains, a completely sequenced genome, and a transparent egg.
2023-12-01T00:00:00Z